Howard Melvin Fast

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Howard Melvin Fast, American writer (born Nov. 11, 1914, New York, N.Y.—died March 12, 2003, Old Greenwich, Conn.), wrote prolifically, most notably popular historical novels on themes of human rights and social justice. Fast, who was well known for his leftist political beliefs, was the author of more than 80 books in addition to poetry, screenplays, and newspaper articles. He was 19 when his first book was published, and his last work was published in 2000. He was imprisoned for three months in 1950 for refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee, after which he was blacklisted for some years, and in 1953 he was awarded the Stalin International Peace Prize. Fast also wrote a series of detective novels under the name E.V. Cunningham. Fast’s best-known books included Citizen Tom Paine (1943), Freedom Road (1944), Spartacus (1951), and The Immigrants (1977).